MSW - Palliative Care - Inpatient (PT, Days)

Job Summary:

Serves as an integral member of a self-directed inpatient interdisciplinary palliative care team. Provides comprehensive, psychosocial assessments, coordination and implementation of age appropriate social work services to meet the complex needs of patients/families/significant others in the hospital setting. The primary focus of the Inpatient Palliative Care Social Worker (IPC LCSW) is to assist patients and families/caregivers in coping with intense and difficult social, emotional and practical arrangements related to the patients end of life care goals, needs and issues. The social worker encourages respect for individuality, independence and patient choice, while collaborating on policies and systems that respect the cultural, religious and ethnic differences among patients and families. Social work contributes to the teams understanding of team development and working together, as well as understanding the patients beliefs, behaviors and barriers regarding the members illness.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Professional behavior supporting regional, facility and department policies procedures, goals and values. Activities include assessment and coordination of physical, psychosocial, cultural and spiritual needs of patients who are appropriate for inpatient palliative consultation/care.
• Participates in interdisciplinary care planning and provides services in accordance with established individualized IPC team plan of care, including coordination and referrals to bereavement programs/supports when appropriate.
• Assists the Interdisciplinary team to increase efficiency, productivity and ongoing development of the Inpatient Palliative Care Consult Teams role within the inpatient setting as well as within the Continuing Care Service Department.
• Assures professional competency through maintaining working knowledge of current social work practice, available community services, member benefits and resources and regulatory standards. Selects and attends education programs to keep current in area of practice.
• Participates in quality improvement and utilization management activities as requested, such as clinical record review, occurrence reporting, focused studies, and process and outcome measurement.
• Provides social work to hospice patients in the inpatient as requested.
• Performs other duties as requested.

Basic Qualifications:

Experience

• Minimum one (1) year of experience in a health care setting OR successful completion of a hospice or palliative care MSW Graduate Student Internship or Post Graduate Fellowship.

Education

• Masters degree in social work.

License, Certification, Registration

• This job requires credentials from multiple states. Credentials from the primary work state are required at hire. Additional Credentials from the secondary work state(s) are required post hire.
  

• Clinical Social Work Associate Certificate (Oregon) within 6 months of hire OR Licensed Clinical Social Worker (Oregon) within 6 months of hire OR Masters Social Worker License (Oregon) within 6 months of hire

• Licensed Social Worker Associate-Independent Clinical (Washington) within 6 months of hire OR Licensed Advanced Social Worker License (Washington) within 6 months of hire OR Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (Washington) within 6 months of hire OR Certified Social Worker Associate License (Washington) within 6 months of hire

• Drivers License (in location where applicable) required at hire
  

• Basic Life Support within 0.5 months of hire
  

• National Provider Identifier required at hire
  

Additional Requirements:

• Experience with interdisciplinary team function.
• Knowledge of medical terminology, the psychosocial impact of specific illnesses.
• Willing to work with patients at the end of life or with complex medical and psychosocial needs.
• Demonstrated ability to interrelate with physicians, nurses, support staff and patients.
• Familiar with care processes and systems in settings internal and external to Kaiser Permanente.
• Knowledge of the principles of patient teaching and delegation, care planning, and appropriate utilization of acute hospital, long term care and home care resources.
• Demonstrates customer-focused service skills.
• Ability to work effectively within an interdisciplinary approach as a consultant vs. direct care provider.
• Knowledge of Medicare regulations/requirements and criteria for hospice care.
• Knowledge of community resources, family dynamics, and the dying process.
• Keyboarding or typing skills.
• This position requires a reliable automobile to travel to and from patient homes and among hospitals.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Minimum one (1) year of experience as a medical social worker in a hospice or palliative care setting.
• Previous work in a hospital setting.
• Working knowledge of the managed care industry.
• Excellent time management, organization, problem solving and customer service skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Able to work autonomously and manage patient case load.
• Operational knowledge of computerized clinical documentation and office application systems including the use of laptop/notebook computers.
• Principles of documentation.
• Counseling skills.
• Ability to track down and locate needed information through telephone and written resources.
• Ability to make accurate assessments of psychosocial needs.

Notes:

• Weekend rotation for SMC inpatient palliative care. 
• Other weeks w/other palliative care clinic & inpatient sites virtually or in person.